The Psychopath's Brain

Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD

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DSM-IV: Antisocial Personality Disorder Definition

Sociopathic Personality or Antisocial Personality Disorder is a personality disorder whose essential feature is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. The individual must be at least age 18 and must have a history of some symptoms of conduct disorder before age 15. It is diagnosed by the presence of three (or more) of the following:

The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode. Some of the associated features are: depressed mood, drug addiction and erratic behavior.

Source: APA, DSM-IV, 1994.

ICD-10: Dissocial Personality Disorder

Source: WHO, ICD-10, 1994. Mental Health